President George W. Bush will meet Larry Hawkinswhen he arrives in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday, August 3, 2004. Hawkins is an active volunteer with Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

President Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes, and he created USA Freedom Corpsto help foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. Since March 2002, President Bush has met with more than 300 individuals around the country, like Hawkins, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

At Ronald McDonald House, Hawkins helps organize activities, such as games and craft projects, for children and their families. He also provides transportation so family members can visit loved ones who are undergoing treatment in area hospitals. Hawkins originally joined the Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors to serve as chairman of the Investments Committee, but when he realized that he wanted more hands-on involvement he began volunteering every Monday night. In addition to planning events, he helps serve food and clean the kitchen after meals, and assists with routine maintenance on the house.

USA Freedom Corps has launched “A Call to Summer Service,” an initiative to encourage Americans to spend a part of their summer in volunteer service. Through “A Call to Summer Service,” citizens are reminded that the summer months are an excellent time to answer the President’s Call to Service, strengthen their communities, and extend the compassion and greatness of America. Interested volunteers can find ideas for summer volunteering and information on how to get started at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

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